No. 829
Crime, Eccentricity, and the Sporting Life in 19th Century America.
September 02, 2025

Female Wrestling Match in Nevada.

Two female athletes at Virginia city Nevada, indulge in a wrestling match for the championship.
September 2, 2025
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(Illustrated Police News, April 3, 1886.)Agnes Anastasia Long moved out of her parents’ home in East Attleboro, Massachusetts, in April 1882. With her many male suiters, she was considered the black sheep of the family. Her father had enough of her bad behavior and, according to the Boston Herald, “refused to permit her to darken the threshold of his humble home.”She took a job at Streeter
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The Billiard Room of the Grand Union Hotel, | "Beaneries"

Female Wrestling Match in Nevada.

Female-wrestlers

The sports of Virginia City are a gay lot, and as money is plenty out there, they enjoy life hugely. They wile the heavy hours away with horse racing, cock fighting, bucking the tiger, and other amusements characteristic of their class. The latest novelty gotten up by them was a female Graeco-Roman wrestling match The contestants were Miss Lillie and Miss Maud, two of the most beautifully formed ballet girls known to the local stage. Their backers were two well-known gamblers of the city, each enamored of the charms and believing in the skill of his favorite beauty. Tickets were only issued to the insiders, but the lucky ones saw rare sport. The girls were both in excellent condition, having been training three weeks. The match was for $1000, best two in three falls. After a spirited struggle of forty-five minutes Miss Lillie was declared the victor, having won two straight falls. There was a good deal of excitement, and a large amount of money changed bands on the result.


Illustrated Police News, April 18, 1876